The history of Mazeikiai does not go as far back as the oldest times, though it is
known that in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries this land belonged to Ceklis region
which suffered a lot from the crusaders. The surrounding country still remembers the
French people retreating over this land from Russia in 1812 and in 1863 when the
Liepoja-Romno railway was laid00.

At the cross-ing of the three roads from Vieksniai, Leckava and Tirksliai, one of the
railway stops was located and it was named after a small farm whose master was Mazeika.
This was the way how Mazeikiai was named either. H. Latvis mentioned the estate
of
Vindeikiai and Mazeikiai in his Livonijas Chronicle at the date 1335. This
statement was confirmed by A. Nikzentaitis.

In 1871, trains began running on this line, and in 1874, Mazeikiai was connected to
Riga by a railway. In 1880, 19 plots of land were parceled out for contraction
of houses
near the stop, and in 1895, the first streets were laid out with cobblestones. A
chemists and other shops were opened. Small workshops appeared. Later on, Mazeikiai
springs up when in 1902 a new railway station palace of brick, locomotives and repair
workshops and a school for railway men were built. In 1907, a society Saule was
founded which opened the first school. During 1901-1918, the railway station was called by
name of Muravjov, and the town beheld the old name of Mazeikiai.

The I World War left its prints on our town. The banks of the river Venta resembled a
battle field of between Russians and Germans in 1915. In 1915-1918, forty Lithuanians were
sentenced to death by shooting by the court martial. At this place, the construction of a
present St. Jesus Heart church of red brick was started in 1930 (architect V.
Landsbergis-Zemkalnis). The first wooden church was built in 1904, and it was sanctified
in 1905 (Priest. P. Meskauskas). Now this place is marked by a chapel pillar.

At the end of I World War, a Lithuanian committee was founded. At the same time, a
bolsheviki board worked, too. In 1919, Bermontas, the chief of the Russian Wfite
Guards, choose Mazeikiai to be headquarters.

At the end of the same year, the central offices of the district moved to Mazeikiai,
and the town acquired the rights of self -government. J. Motuzas was appointed first mayor
(burgomaster). The town grew considerably during the years of independence of Lithuania.
Hospitals, a bank palace, a new town hall, three working catholic churches, Jewish
synagogue, evangelic-lutheran church, and the house for prayers of old-believers were
built. During the II World War, more than a half of living blocks and industrial
enterprises were destroyed or turned to ruins. Not far away from the bridge over the
Venta, German Nazi shot about 4-5 thousand inhabitants. In the post-war years, a cemetery
of second World War Victims was situated at this site.

Nowadays, Mazeikiai is a distinctive industrial town, according to its population it
takes the eight place in Lithuania. In 1980, a refinery started working on the site of
former village of Juodeikiai. There are compress ring, electro technical, furniture, making
enterprises and a shoemaking factory, bakery and dairy factories and other small workshops
are in the town. At the present, all industrial centers are being privatized.

Recently, new districts have appeared. They are named as follows: Kalnenu, Naftininku,
Ventos and Tirksliu.

The old town is constantly changing, too. The street and public gardens are decorated
by sculptors works. The sculptures of the poet A. Vienazindis (sculptor G. Jokubonis),
the writer and pedagogue Satrijos Ragana and the first professional director of plays J.
Vaickus (sculptor J. Meskelevicius) stand in the park of the old town.

One can find a more detailed description of the history of the town in the museum of
the local lore.

Mazeikiai is only the eighth largest town in Lithuania but it can boast as one of the
most significant industrial centres in the country. One of the largest and most important
national industrial enterprises, Mazeikiai oil refinery Mazeikiu nafta, a
compressor plant, an electrotechnical enterprise, furniture and footwear factories, food
processin enterprises operate in this town. Mazeikiu nafta is the founder of the
hotel and recreation centre Plinkses.

The hotel and recreation centre Plinkses is located to the South-West of the most
northern town in Lithuania, Mazeikiai.

In the very heart of Zemaitija (Samogitia) at the beautiful Lake Plinksiu, next to the
palace of the old estate, you will find an oasis of comfort peace and health, a hotel and
recreation centre Plinkses.

The hotel is built in the recreation area of Mazeikiai region, on the eastern coast of
lake Plinkses, next to the former estate and park of Count Konstantinas Pliateris. The
central palace of the estate with auxiliary buildings of interesting architecture were
built at the end of the 19th c. The park was created in the 2nd half of the
19th c. Its layout mirrors the principles of the English landscape type parks with a
slight allusion to the traditions of the Classicism. The palace, the park and the ponds
around it create a very valuable historical and architectural ensemble. Take a stroll
along the lanes of our park and you will feel the spirit of history around you.

The hotel and recreational center Plinkses is regularly renovated to keep it up
with international standards. The hotel administration and other employees are always
ready to assist you and promptly attend to all your needs and desires.

This is the right place for a good rest from the city noise and your everyday problems.

The nature around you, the whisper of the moving trees in the centenarian park will fill
your body with strengh for the challenges of the coming day.

If you arrive an business or are on vacation, Plinkses can offer you everything to make
you feel at home. Having come once youll be willing to came again.

The hotel can host 60 guests at a time.

We can offer 44 single, double, deluxe rooms and suites. All rooms are equipped with
modern bathrooms, air conditioning, satellite television and the world-wide telephone
connection.

At your request, our staff will wash your clothes and order a taxi.

If you come in your own car, a guarder parking lot with a car-wash service is available.

You can use two conference halls (for 20-25 people), send a fax.

The cozy atmosphere, excellent dishes and exquisite drinks at the hotels
restaurant-bar will help you to relax and enjoy the evening mood. Invite your friends for
a chat or a dance. It is a perfect place to discuss business or continue with the new
acquaintance. Festive dinners, cocktails or parties can also be organized in this place.

The restaurant-bar is open daily from 2.00 p. m. to 11.00 p. m.

Breakfast for the hotel guests is served from 6.30 a. m. to 9.00 a. m.

After a demanding working day or after successful negotiations we invite you for swim in
our swimming pool with cascades and underwater currents.

Your weariness will disappear in the sauna or Turkish bath equipped by Tylo
company. Skilled masseuses will help you to recover your energy.

In addition, you are welcome to various health and beauty procedures, such as manual and
underwater massage, curative showers and bath, applications of curative mud and silt
powder, oil lotions for skin care, etc.

These service are provided daily, from 11.00 a. m. to 11.00 p. m.

The unforgettable beauty of Lithuanian nature will open in front of your eyes if you
take part in one-or two-day tour down the magnificent river of Varduva.

You will enjoy the peaceful flow of the river, see ancient water-mills and mounds, or,
if you are lucky, a bathing beaver or the proud black heron. And a night at the fire! Can
you think of anything better?

Not only employees of Mazeikiu nafta, but also people from all over Lithuania and
other country come for a rest to our recreation center.

We encourage an active rest for the whole family and each member individually .

All kinds of entertainment are available: a gymnasium, table tennis, childrens
playrooms, rent of water-bikes, boats, sports and tourism items.

You can also test yourself in the billiards-room.

For those who enjoy nature we can offer a bike ride in the beautiful environments of
lake Plinkses and along the shady paths of Zalgiris forest.